Singer 29K51 - Request

[JoeFresh]

Hello! Hope everyone is doing well.

I recently found a 29K51 at a local auction and let me tell ya! It needs some loving. But hey, I figured I like tinkering and have a good mechanical background maybe I can restore this beauty. That being said, I browsed the forums for some documentation (manuals, parts books, part suppliers etc.). With little luck on some good solid information. I'm assuming this is just because the machine is so old and a lot of the documentation or parts suppliers are now gone.

If anyone has a pdf for the 29K51 operation manual, or a good restoration forum guide I'd love to read them. As well as a parts supplier as I definitely broke a couple pieces trying to remove stuck pins.

I have tried to attached photos of the 29K51 but the file sizes were too big - Right now it has been completely disassembled and I am in the process of cleaning all the little bits and pieces up in preparation for a reassembly.

[Tastech]

Hey Joe , I am sorry to inform you that parts are no longer available for the 51 and have not been for well over 60 years . However a lot of parts are interchangeable with the 29K73. The parts that will cause you sleepless nights are the bottom end where the bobbin goes in . There are 3 small gears and a rake that are hard to find but you can rob them from a donor machine. I posted a few photos of some restoration machines that i have done but i cant remember on which post so i will re load them here for you . Before and after .

Having restored 6 29k's  I have learned a few things . Stripping them down and reassembling them is not really that hard but you do need a few crucial tools . To remove the pins use a correct size punch and to remove the main balance wheel use a pulley remover . Take good photos of everything for reference especially the bottom end bobbin section and the alignment of the bobbin rotation in relation to the needle and rake . when you disassemble a section put the parts into a ziplock bag and label them . There really is no need to remove the main shaft and the cam gear inside the head .My first restoration took 40 hours but i have got it down to 16.

There are PDF manuals online but the diagrams are of bad quality however the parts are listed with their numbers .

As long as the machine has all the parts then you are good . If all the machine needs is a clean up and you are satisfied with that then go for it . If you need help or advice let me know and i will do what i can for you . I take great satisfaction in resurrecting a dead machine . There is a video on you tube somewhere of a guy cleaning up a 51  from memory it is a 3 part video . I go a lot further than he does simply because i can and i suspect i might have a touch of OCD .lol

 Regards 

Tas

[Wizcrafts]

1 hour ago, JoeFresh said:

I have tried to attached photos of the 29K51 but the file sizes were too big 

Read this post to learn how to resize your photos so they are under our limits. You can also try emailing the photos to yourself. Many mail servers are are set to reduce image sizes during delivery, including Gmail. Failing that, you can try compressing the photos by zipping them inside a zip file, using 7Zip, or Winzip. But, if you can access a graphics program that allows you to save at a lesser quality, and/or overall dimensions, use it. Check your camera, or phone camera to see what the smallest resolution is and retake the photos at that resolution. My Samsung A53 allows me to shoot as low as 1:1, or 3x4. These produce very small file sizes in comparison to 9x16 or full screen.

[Constabulary]

The 29K51 has a lot in common with the later 29K71 but the gear box is completely different and the pinions are no longer available. The 29K51 has a "drop out" gear box.

The 29K71 manual and parts list is very helpful but as said it has a different gear box.

I also have a German language Manual if you want it let me know

[JoeFresh]

22 hours ago, Tastech said:

Hey Joe , I am sorry to inform you that parts are no longer available for the 51 and have not been for well over 60 years . However a lot of parts are interchangeable with the 29K73. The parts that will cause you sleepless nights are the bottom end where the bobbin goes in . There are 3 small gears and a rake that are hard to find but you can rob them from a donor machine. I posted a few photos of some restoration machines that i have done but i cant remember on which post so i will re load them here for you . Before and after .

Having restored 6 29k's  I have learned a few things . Stripping them down and reassembling them is not really that hard but you do need a few crucial tools . To remove the pins use a correct size punch and to remove the main balance wheel use a pulley remover . Take good photos of everything for reference especially the bottom end bobbin section and the alignment of the bobbin rotation in relation to the needle and rake . when you disassemble a section put the parts into a ziplock bag and label them . There really is no need to remove the main shaft and the cam gear inside the head .My first restoration took 40 hours but i have got it down to 16.

There are PDF manuals online but the diagrams are of bad quality however the parts are listed with their numbers .

As long as the machine has all the parts then you are good . If all the machine needs is a clean up and you are satisfied with that then go for it . If you need help or advice let me know and i will do what i can for you . I take great satisfaction in resurrecting a dead machine . There is a video on you tube somewhere of a guy cleaning up a 51  from memory it is a 3 part video . I go a lot further than he does simply because i can and i suspect i might have a touch of OCD .lol

 Regards 

Tas

Great job on those restorations!!

Did you find a stencil for the logos?

Or how did you get those back on after painting?

I was thinking I needed to powder coat the body did you just use spray paint?

Lots of questions! haha. But really nice job. Inspiring!

I believe I only managed to break these two parts. Until I get everything cleaned up I may be looking for more.

I am also open to the idea of selling the machine if anyone is interested. I wouldn't know where to begin in terms of using it to make awesome things so it may end up as a display piece in my shop for the rest of its life.

I am currently on the "wire wheel" every piece of the puzzle phase after disassembly and giving everything a good wash. Once I get all the bits and pieces cleaned up I'll share some photos of a spread of all the parts. Including the damaged ones for reference. Looks like I'm lucky that the gearbox was complete on my machine.

Also thank you for the resizing tips! Worked!

[JoeFresh]

17 hours ago, Constabulary said:

The 29K51 has a lot in common with the later 29K71 but the gear box is completely different and the pinions are no longer available. The 29K51 has a "drop out" gear box.

The 29K71 manual and parts list is very helpful but as said it has a different gear box.

I also have a German language Manual if you want it let me know

Would you happen to be able to send me that German Manual?! My Father in law is Old German. I would love to see his face if I showed him the manual!

[Tastech]

Joe , No such thing as stupid questions only stupid people ,lol

I found some water decals on Etsy from a small business in Brisbane Australia ,However they don't really stick that well to hammer tone powder coat  . I found a retired sign writer who took a photo of the originals and some measurements and cut me some beautiful decals in various colors and sizes .  Even the sticker type don't really like the hammer tone . 

The bronze machine was powder coated , Although i love the color i would probably not powder coat again for a few reasons . You have to mask up really well and the special tape is expensive  . There is something about cast iron that makes the coat pop with pinholes . I think the cast iron is porous and the baking process expands the cavities and you can get a funny effect in some places . I knew this so opted for a hammer tone to try and mask these flaws . I can live with what i got but would not do it again . The treadle frame on the other hand come out fine . I have found that a good quality engine enamel and primer are the best combination . You may also nee to do some fine bog work which is not compatible with powder coating .

My standard process is as follows .

Spray the machine with penetrating oil to make disassembly easy

Degrease all parts 

Remove any loose  rust and crap with a wire brush or wire wheel in a grinder 

paint strip the main body and all painted parts 

 In a tub large enough mix 1 part phosphoric acid with 10 parts water . you can go stronger . The acid will only dissolve the rust and only mildly etch the metal . Phosphoric acid sound dangerous and hard to get . It will burn the skin so wear gloves and eye protection and have a plan in case you spill some on you .Just be careful . Its is available from cleaning chemical suppliers or wholesalers and is about $80 a gallon . Mix a large tub for the main body and wheel and a smaller bucket for all the other bits and screws . 12- 24 hours is what it takes . once done wash off the acid with a hose and some soapy water and let dry . The metal will oxidize very quickly so act fast and go over everything with a wire cup wheel on a grinder and it will shine nice .this also buys you some time ti get the painting done. Paint all the parts you are going to pain and while the paint is curing you can work on polishing the bits .

To polish the bits is an art but also just a basic step by step process .  for this you need a bench grinder with a stainless wire wheel on one end and a woven polishing wheel on the other . you will also need a grey cutting compound . I also use a series of scotch brite belts and pads for the polishing of the arm and screw heads . You may or may not have these but are worth getting even for your motorbike work . The art is knowing where and how to hold the pieces when polishing because the can go flying and end up down the street . I use a cordless drill for the screw heads and vice grips for other parts . The parts can get a bit hot to the touch so wear gloves . Take photos over every part before you disassemble and label the parts so you don't have grief later. Take special note of the positioning of the gear box and how the bottom positioning relates to the bobbin carriage above it .

Parts 

The cammed balance wheel can be retro fitted from a current machine or a 29k 71,72,73   

The other parts can also be retro fitted from later machines also ,Search Ebay singer 29K and some parts will come up .

If the machine is missing parts and not working then it is not of much value but only a donor machine for parts , So before you invest time and money make sure you are onto a winner .

If you decide not to proceed with the restoration and decide to sell it for parts i want first dibs on the bobbin gear box and rake . I have a restored machine that needs the main bobbin gear and then its back on the road for another 100 years   

Attached is a 29k ready for painting 

 I hope i got my sizing right or Wizcrafts the pixel nazi will be after me .lol

Edited August 13, 2023 by Tastech
insert another photo

[JoeFresh]

Hello Tastech,

Thank you so much for all the great information! I'll keep this pinned so I can reference it in the future. I was going to powder coat the body but I'm now thinking otherwise haha.

I'm leaning towards rebuilding the machine as a "Display piece" and not a functioning machine - With this in mind if you'd like parts for the machine let me know and I can get them cleaned up and we can work something out. 

I can email you some better photos of the parts you'd want and such as well. I also have the original cast iron base that the sewing machine was mounted too with the foot pedal. 

Regards,
Joe

Edited August 17, 2023 by JoeFresh

[Tastech]

15 hours ago, JoeFresh said:

Hello Tastech,

Thank you so much for all the great information! I'll keep this pinned so I can reference it in the future. I was going to powder coat the body but I'm now thinking otherwise haha.

I'm leaning towards rebuilding the machine as a "Display piece" and not a functioning machine - With this in mind if you'd like parts for the machine let me know and I can get them cleaned up and we can work something out. 

I can email you some better photos of the parts you'd want and such as well. I also have the original cast iron base that the sewing machine was mounted too with the foot pedal. 

Regards,
Joe

Hey Joe ,Do you have a color in mind? I love the old school engineering and quality of workmanship of these old machine yet i am not a traditionalist when it comes to color . The way i see it is that there are 1000,s of standard black machines in the world and will be for a long time so when it comes to a new paint job i try to think outside the square and choose a color to please myself . In many cases i work backwards and discover a color i like  then find a machine to paint in that color. I have already chosen a color for my next machine but do not have the machine yet . The color is a metallic orange called burnt orange . I have seen a few pick up trucks with this color and i love it . If your machine is going to be just a looker then go all the way or 'Fully Sick'  as we say in Australia  Consider automotive paints and their vast palate of colors . I am excited for you because i know it will give you great satisfaction when the job is done . The philosophy of my restorations is i want the person looking at the machine to get the urge to lick it because it looks so good .lol  

I have sent you a Private message with my email and some instruction so check you messages 

Cheers 

Tas

Some 100 year old shoe makers hammers restored from rusty junk to back at working making shoes 

They are both George barnsley's  

 

[JoeFresh]

I'm thinking to go with some sort of Harley Gold with Black accent. To match the color pallet of my favorite Harley paint combo. (Attached is the inspiration) I also have the original base that the machine came on so maybe I'll get carried away and hit it with some chrome haha!

Beautiful hammers! What type of shoes do you make? Do you have a link I can check out? 

Also - Attached URLs for the 29K51 when I first brought it home.

https://ibb.co/Sx7S3c5
https://ibb.co/cCGZKSX
https://ibb.co/zhnVJwy
https://ibb.co/HY62YNy
https://ibb.co/W6GC4KM
https://ibb.co/3RdY4pj
https://ibb.co/sRsQLWx
https://ibb.co/Gtkn9TM
https://ibb.co/GCCNW16
https://ibb.co/f2YM3Mt
https://ibb.co/ch6Qt0F
https://ibb.co/J3cPgrL
https://ibb.co/7Jzrzvm
https://ibb.co/HTFJc25
https://ibb.co/P4HmnmN